BAE 1.5

Magazine Overview

Title: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Issue: Volume 1, Number 5
Date: June-July 1990
Publisher: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience (formerly "Ratchet Patrol")
Focus: A Networking Newsletter about the UFO "Abduction" Phenomenon and Related Issues for Interested Scientists.

This issue of the Bulletin of Anomalous Experience departs from its usual format to focus on a single theme: the role of the electromagnetic spectrum in understanding anomalous trauma. The editor emphasizes that the issue presents ideas and experimental results from psychology, epidemiology, and medicine that collectively suggest another "dimension" or "field" of energy or influence on human awareness, rather than exhaustive proofs.

Editor's Corner

The editor expresses hope that the issue will be thought-provoking and invites colleagues to share their thoughts. The editor mentions a planned review of Fred Alan Wolf's book "PARALLEL UNIVERSES" for the next issue, noting that Wolf's book, the current issue's contents, and Ken Ring's ideas on an "imaginal realm" all touch upon the same basic concept.

Review: The Electric Connection

This section reviews Michael Shallis's book "The Electric Connection" (1988). The book deals with "electrical sensitivity," a phenomenon observed by Ken Ring in many UFO experiencers. The reviewer notes that the book is difficult to find and shares impressions from reading it.

"Electrical Sensitives" Case Studies

Shallis presents compelling case studies of individuals, like "Sheila," who are "electrical sensitives." Sheila "all too easily becomes charged with static electricity," can harm animals, causes sparks from her fingers, and has caused appliances to malfunction or explode. She also experiences social difficulties and tends to have multiple allergies and practice "psychic healing." While these anecdotes are compelling, the reviewer notes a lack of objective measurement or scientific investigation to support them. Shallis mentions conducting a "survey" of electrical sensitives, but provides no further details.

Broader Scope and Unsubstantiated Claims

After an overview of electricity and magnetism, Shallis discusses a range of unorthodox medical practices, including pyramid power, homeopathy, radiesthesia, radionics, and orgone therapy, which he claims are "verified" and "scientifically documented." The reviewer finds this scholarship to be lost and the claims unsubstantiated.

UFO Theories and Technology Concerns

Shallis briefly mentions Devereux's "EARTHLIGHTS" theory, suggesting UFOs are luminous electrical discharges along fault lines, but also allows for the possibility of alien spacecraft. The book then shifts to a critical view of technology, particularly computers, which Shallis describes as "insidious agents of evil" that drain our wills. He posits that by harnessing electricity, we are creating "evil entities," modern-day incarnations of Ahriman (the Zoroastrian god of darkness). The reviewer likens the book's final chapters to a "Reefer Madness parody applied to computers," citing Dr. John Morris's view that computer technology is linked to references to the devil or demons.

Criticism of the Book

The reviewer finds the book profoundly disappointing, difficult to credit due to its extremism, and of very limited value as a source of information on "electrical" phenomena. The reviewer notes that Shallis's claims about Ahrimanic symptoms, such as coldness, nausea, headache, and disorientation, are linked to people living near pylons and overhead power lines.

EM Fields Affect Consciousness

Following the review of Shallis's book, the reviewer sought out "ELECTROMAGNETISM AND LIFE" by Becker and Marino, which Shallis references. This book is described as a technical and scholarly work on the electrical and magnetic properties of human tissue and organs, distinct from the bizarre effects discussed in Shallis's book.

Influence of Electromagnetic Fields on Consciousness

The reviewer found numerous works on the biological effects of electromagnetic fields. One document, from a Food and Drug Administration - Bureau of Radiological Health conference, provides experimental evidence that changes in the electromagnetic environment can alter states of consciousness in susceptible individuals. This suggests a potential "final common pathway" linking UFO encounters and abductions, explaining why experiencers react differently and offering a measurable characteristic of people and places.

Excerpts from "Critical Aspects of Human Versus Terrestrial Electromagnetic Symbiosis"

Excerpts from a paper by E. Stanton Maxey, M.D., are presented. The paper discusses how biological systems are influenced by the terrestrial electrical environment (electric fields, magnetic fields, etc.). It notes that human brain waves occur at frequencies paralleling terrestrial "sferics" and the Schumann resonance, and that decision-making abilities are linked to alpha, beta, theta, and delta rhythms. The study confirms synchronous electrical responses to artificially generated weak magnetic waves. It suggests that aircraft and motor vehicle accidents may be linked to operators' brains becoming "entrained" to magnetic waves generated in storm systems.

Biological Effects of EM Fields: A Review

This section reviews the known biological effects of electromagnetic fields. Historically, only the "thermal effect" was recognized. However, it is now understood that weaker magnetic fields can affect cells, organ systems, the nervous system, and consciousness. The reviewer presents data in three segments: epidemiological evidence, laboratory evidence on tissues and organ systems, and effects on consciousness.

#### Epidemiological Evidence

Nancy Wertheimer's 1970s research showed children living near high-current electrical wires had twice the cancer rate of those living near low-current wiring. Further research indicated that workers frequently exposed to alternating-current magnetic fields (e.g., power-station operators, linemen) had significantly higher cancer rates.

#### Biological Effects of EM (Laboratory)

• Simulated 60 Hz hi-voltage power line fields suppressed the killing capacity of T-lymphocyte cells.
• The iron in hemoglobin becomes magnetized around computer terminals, causing red blood cells to form "chains" (Rouleau effect).
• The enzyme alpha-amylase was found to be deactivated by low-intensity RF fields around 10 MHz.
• German bacteriologist H. Bortels discovered in 1950 that the freezing point of water varied with solar radiation.
• Japanese haematologist Maki Takata found blood albumen levels positively correlated with exposure to solar radiation.
• A French study showed lymphocytosis (excess white blood cells) correlated with sunspot activity.

#### Effects on Brain and CNS

The brain and central nervous system are "natural candidates for interaction with fields" due to their use of low-frequency fields for communication. It is clear that 60Hz and other low-frequency electromagnetic fields can interact with cells and organs, though the public health implications are unclear. Dr. Robert O. Becker and Howard Friedman's 1963 study showed a relationship between hospital admissions for psychiatric services and solar magnetic storms. They also exposed volunteers to pulsed magnetic fields, finding it slowed reaction times. A Soviet investigator, Yuri Alexandrei Khodolov, reported that stronger magnetic fields caused cell death.

Mechanism of the EM Effect

Proposed theories involve "cyclotron resonances" of ions, where ELF field frequencies matching an ion's resonant frequency can encourage its transport across cell membranes. This is not necessarily beneficial.

Reproducibility and the Local Geomagnetic Field

Reproducing experimental results is challenging because field strengths are comparable to the ambient geomagnetic field, which can differ between laboratories. Blackman demonstrated that the frequency needed to induce changes in calcium-ion outflow from brain cells was not constant but varied with the local geomagnetic field strength.

Conceptualization

This section explores the premise that UFO events and abductions are associated with electromagnetic fields. This association could explain the variable sensitivity of individuals to EM fields, accounting for why some witnesses have vivid abduction experiences while others are "turned off." It also offers a new perspective on Deveraux's premise that UFO sightings occur along lines of geomagnetic instability. The editor admits this is "tenuous" but hopes it will spark argument.

A Field Theory Conceptualization For The Treatment Of Panic, Anxiety Disorders, Phobias And Anomalous Trauma

An unpublished research proposal by Maralyn L. Teare is presented. It outlines a "field theory conceptualization of treatment" that is expansive and embraces behavioral, cognitive, emotional, physiological, and spiritual dimensions. The proposal posits that all life forms exist within known and unknown fields (gravitational, electromagnetic, quantum matter) which give rise to and sustain life. It suggests that moment-to-moment interventions reveal that consciousness interacts with matter by altering perception and memory. The electromagnetic field surrounding life forms expands and contracts in relation to internal and external events, and this system is proposed to be the immune system. Panic, fear, and anger contract the field, converting "potential energy" into symptoms. The proposal emphasizes the "extended mind maximized that HEALS" and the importance of returning to a state of "BALANCE."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the interconnectedness of electromagnetic fields, human consciousness, and anomalous experiences, particularly UFO abductions. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting scientific research, book reviews, and theoretical proposals to explore these complex phenomena. The publication encourages debate and the sharing of ideas among interested scientists, positioning itself as a platform for networking and discussion on topics often on the fringes of mainstream science. The issue highlights the potential for electromagnetic phenomena to influence human psychology and physiology, suggesting that these fields may play a significant role in experiences that are not easily explained by conventional means. The editor's invitation for reader contributions and the inclusion of an unpublished research proposal indicate a commitment to fostering further investigation and dialogue within the field of anomalous experiences.